Decision on ambulance station closure plans delayed

Published:13:32Thursday 10 January 2013

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A DECISION on controversial plans to close ambulance stations in the High Peak has been delayed for two months.

East Midlands Ambulance Service (EMAS) were due to make a final decision on whether to approve the plans to replace ambulance stations - including those in Buxton and New Mills - with community ambulance posts and hubs at a board meeting on January 28.

However, after meeting today (Thursday) to receive a report detailing the feedback from their three-month Being the Best consultation into the plans, the board have now agreed to put the decision back to March.

A statement from EMAS said: “As a direct result of the feedback from the consultation, we are now looking at additional options which will allow us to meet our ‘Being the Best’ ambitions.

On the EMAS estate, in particular, it means we will be carrying out further analysis to make sure the final proposals work operationally and financially.

Therefore, the Estates Business Case will now go to the March 25 board meeting rather than the January 28 meeting. The additional time will allow us to continue to work closely with staff representatives to review the alternative options with the aim of developing final proposals for the Board to consider.”

For the full story, see next week’s Buxton Advertiser.

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